Is Your Catholic Parish Accepting everyone...including Gays?

i hope he means it!
it would be nice if the catholic church quit being a dick.
khairete
S.

Hey, they just apologized to Galileo for that whole "sun at the center or earth at the center" argument.

In fact, wasn't it just in the last decade the church admitted that the earth isn't flat?

Give them a break, they'll get around to being unbigoted in a couple hundred years. Stop rushing them!

Those "gasps" are what made me stop going to church -- not just about homosexuality, but about everything. The religious environments I have known in my life have been horribly judgmental and cold. My opinion of most so-called Christians has been pretty negative in my adult life. In my opinion, most Christians are anything but Christ like.

We now attend a united methodist church that truly accepts everyone. They walk the walk like no other church I've been in. I grew up Lutheran and our church was very judgmental. My father grew up Catholic and I heard awful stories about his upbringing in the church. As an adult, we tried going to Lutheran services in a couple of entirely different places than where I grew up, but the cold environment and judgment was just the same. Finally, I stopped going to church. But two years ago, we started going to this church. I have never found a more accepting, loving, Christ-like attitude in any church. They welcome and embrace all, communion is open to everyone, services are open to everyone, we have members and guests from all walks of life. This is the first church whose philosophy is closely aligned with my own understanding of what Christianity is meant to be. I've learned as an adult that just because you're raised in one religion does not mean it is the right religion for you. I don't know if every UMC congregation is like the one we're attending, but this church has single-handedly restored my faith in faith.

ETA: In response to Mallory -- every human judges. Yes, I have opinions about how judgmental the people in my experiences have been. The difference is, I removed myself from THEIR worlds -- but I've never said they don't have a right to hold those views nor have I tried to exclude them from anything. The judgmental people I've met in my religions experiences is that they have been exclusive of others and have tried to get others to change. I haven't done that to anyone -- I've just removed myself from their worlds. There is not one person who doesn't judge the world around them for themselves. It's the actions that they take based on those judgments that make a difference.

Our church pretty much did the same thing... except we already had a gay couple attending church. While I am not Catholic.. I believe every church of God should respond along the same way..

The gay couple came to our pastor in private asking if they could attend. He said yes, our doors are open to everyone. He never called them out or said anything to anyone about it. But once people started coming to him saying things and over hearing comments he made a statement to everyone.

He pretty much said how un-Christan- like everyone was being and we are taught that church doors are open to everyone to allow Christ into our lives and learn the word of the Bible. In the Bible it states that we are not to judge, He is the only one. We are to love thy neighbour. He said now look into your own heart and ask yourself if you are following the word of the Bible or if you have your own personal work that needs to be to done. He then stated that yes we have new members in our church and as a church of God we will always welcome any person who walks through the doors with open arms and treat everyone like God has taught us to love one another and leave the rest up to Him... no questions asked. He then went on to give an awesome serman about love and being nonjudgemental.

Wow, that's amazing! I am Catholic, and we have one main church we attend, but sometimes go to another parish (different mass times). The main one is very old school and I would be surprised if they ever made the change to welcome gays. The other one is more progressive and I could see it.

One of the other posts mentioned that a gay couple asked the priest if they could attend, and I would think most parishes in this case would say yes. The doors are open to everyone. If we ever received a sermon about how we are welcoming gays, I think the response would be, well, gasps like at your church.

I would have no problem. I would love for everyone to feel the warmth that I get from being Catholic. And I feel like the rest is between them and God. It's tricky, though, right? I have heard that some higher up in the Church said that it is 200 years behind the time. Others feel like the traditions and stability in the Church are what is needed in the world. I try to listen to our priests and find what feels right, and allow my views to be challenged.

And apologized for being old? How sad is that? I try to get something out of whatever mass I attend, no matter who is leading mass. I will say, the younger priests have great energy and often a fresh message. But the older ones have great stories and feel very wise to me. We often get priests just here from other countries, and they are SO hard to understand!

Interesting post, thanks for the thought provoking start to my day!

I think that's kind of funny.
Just because ALL the gay people that I know do not go around announcing to everyone they meet that they are gay.
There are probably already quite a few gay folks at your church.
GASP!

I belong to the United Church of Canada, which is an inclusive church. We allow gay members as well as gay clergy. In fact, the current moderator of the United Church is openly gay and married to another United Church minister.

good grief, I know a young woman who actually began her journey as a nun....& decided at the very end that she could not commit to God.

She now works in a Catholic school., is openly gay & has a Life Partner.

Why not? Perhaps administration has their blinders on....who knows? & I really don't think it matters. :)

Honey, all Christians aren't bad. Some of us/them really do want a world of love and peace. Just because we believe in the Bible, something many people consider an antiquated document of religion, condemning and unfair (which it isn't, to me it is a letter of love from God), doesn't mean we want to make everyone miserable. Believe me, there are some of us who are nice, loving, giving and kind.

But not all Christians are strong. They are easily shaken, probably because many of them really don't know how to defend their faith, even amongst other believers. That is why there is so much discord within church walls. May you come to know God by getting to know the church person by person, relationship by relationship, not under a general umbrella like "the Catholic Church".

Being a Christian has nothing to do with "religion". It means having a relationship with God plain and simple.

All the other things - lifestyle, theology, doctrines, interpretations of scripture, service, outreach, ministries, how many verses you have memorized, going to church, what you agree or disagree with yada yada yada - that should be the result of your relationship with God and what you know about Him.

In other words, how you act, what you say and do, how you present yourself, what you believe, how you want to live should be a reflection of your personal relationship with God.

Take your child for example. Let's say he gets embarrassed when you leave notes in his lunch saying "have a good day" or "I love you so much". So you stop leaving notes, right? Your actions as someone in that relationship with your son reflect what you know that person approves/disapproves, and will dictate what course of action to take. But you would never do as he requested or even respect what he wants if you didn't have a personal relationship with him.

Yes, I hope changes come in the Catholic Church and in all the churches that claim to be the Body of Christ. Changes that will break down walls, humble us all including gays and Christians, and bring glory to God.

Ours does.. but keep in mind, it's not just been Catholics who haven't allowed gays, many other religions and orders haven't been too kind either..
I applaud your church and others for opening their doors to everyone..

Oh my gosh.... you sound exactly like me! I also have a love/hate relationship with the Catholic church!! I love all the statues, robes, etc. and the way they do ceremonies, etc. My husband and I are both Catholic; he's more "practicing" than I am. We sent our kids to Catholic Grade School - the first one was fantastic; then because we moved we had to switch - the second was a bunch of back-stabbing Witches with an idiot principal and all they cared about was money! After a couple years I had had enough and we transferred them to public school and they couldn't be happier. They continued with Religion Classes to get confirmed, etc. but that's it!

Anyways, I wanted my kids to at least have a good Christian foundation and learn about God, etc., then when they were old enough they could decide which route to take. My kids and I don't always go to church; I don't feel I have to go to a building to worship God.

Ok, so having said all that ..... yes, I feel the Catholic church - and so many other religions, as well! - is full of contradictions, in my opinion. They preach we're supposed to love everyone but yet they exclude so many people. I know of people in my church who are prejudice against all types of people - it makes me sick!! How is that being Christian???? I love that my parents raised me to care about people - ALL people!! I'm very proud of my kids because they feel the same way!

But to answer your question - I have no idea if they are accepting gays - I've never heard either way!! If I hear anything saying they're definitely not, then you can expect me to stop going all together!!

Great question!!

Wow-I think thats great! It has not been discussed in my parish that I am aware of.

Just want to add one thing: When I really think about it I feel that I should have a problem with ALL judging in the name of religion...isn't it ALL wrong? And I guess all judging in general for that matter? Its wrong to pass judgment on gay people I get it. But I think it is JUST AS WRONG to pass judgment on the people who are passing jugment on them-as Veronica in the post before me and as I am sure most posters after me will do. But it seems like that is always ok. You are allowed to pass judgment if it is in the name of being gay or other various liberal causes. I guess what I really want to say is that ALL judgment should be left up to the Lord.

I attend a Catholic Church on a military installation. I think the Catholic Church AND military are coming around, but it takes time. Most of the spouses I know are very progressive, but any change in a church or military takes a lot of time! And, they have come a long way...my husband and I were married on the altar in the Catholic Church and he is not Catholic, my niece was Baptized Catholic and my sister was unmarried, and they have become a lot more accepting of divorce.

With that being said, I go to church because that is my faith. I don't agree with all of the 'rules' and 'beliefs' of the church, but that won't stop me from going. I don't agree with a lot of politicians (many of their lifestyles/choices/decisions are disgusting), but I still vote. The guy who owns Chick-Fil-A doesn't approve of gay marriage, but I still eat there:)

Wow - that is awesome! But I do not know of ANY Catholic churches in my area that my friends and family attend that do. In fact one of my coworkers got asked to leave his Catholic church (One he attended and went to school at since childhood) because he married somebody who had a divorce and would not get her marriage annulled.

(I grew up Lutheran. But I recently have been going to an awesome non-denominational church that accepts everyone! I have been loving the change!! It's less formal feeling and highly focused around children even though it doesn't have a school.)

I don't know whether they do attend or not but if our priest ever were to say anything remotely discriminatory against anyone, my family would leave right then and there. yes it's changing, just taking thousands of years.

The black church is really hard on gays (but most have a flaming (but closeted) gay organist/pianist)-- shhhh!

Yes, our Catholic parish is (somewhat) open to gays. I wish it was more open, though. We have gay parishioners, and some of the lectors (readers) are gay, as well, which seems to be pretty accepting to me when compared to some Catholic parishes. What bothers me is when our priest, who I generally love, gives homilies that aren't as welcoming to gays. They aren't horrible, excluding gays the way the Catholic church used to, but his homilies aren't as inclusive as I would like them to be, either. I do think we're moving in the right direction, though. We just aren't where we should be, yet (IMHO).

Many churches are becoming politically correct. You should see the church I grew up in. A handful of people who stay with it because they think it will get better. The sad thing is, it won't. Not if the principles and standards it was built on are being sacrificed. And that's what it comes down to. The idea is that Wow! if we're hip to the changing times we'll look cool, and it'll bring in a whole lot of new blood and the church will survive!!!!!
It won't. The standards the churches were built on kept them going and alive for decades. They didn't compromise. Once that starts to happen it's a domino effect. Now the Methodist churches in my hometown are having to blend together to make a congregation. Like school closings.

M., you have to decide. Is it time to move on to a church that meets your standards? You have to decide what you feel is right and wrong, deep down inside. And do some self reflection as to are you a Bible believer or not. You either take it at its word and follow it as a road map, or it's got flaws. Take into account that for centuries it's worked just fine. But through the ages it's been disbelieved, or misinterpreted, or compromised.

And getting negative email about the changes is reactionary. The people have lived lives according to the principles handed down for centuries and now someone steps in and changes them? Of course they'll be upset. It doesn't make them evil. As to being hate email, it depends on the content. Maybe it's just 'disagreement' email.

If you're having issues with the Catholic church changing, do you WANT to find a different church? Do you want a reason to go more often? Maybe the Catholic church isn't the place for you, if you do. Find a Bible believing congregation. You might find the joy you want. There are youth programs in other churches. I go to Salem Bible church in Northville Twp. They have bible studies, they have Awana programs for kids, youth groups for older kids, and it's a very welcoming place. But it sticks to the Christian principles.

It's a thought.

Allowing openly gay Deacons and female deacons is what caused the split in the Episcopalian church.

The hate mail? yeah - hypocritical.

Those that are saying NO to gays - that is their right as parishioners and how THEY choose to follow and interpret the bible.

Me? I don't care if you are gay or not.

I thinks so I know my Catholic Church is changing a lot!